"I'm kind of trying to forget about it, put it in the back of my mind and move forward," said the 19-year-old defenceman, who was recently returned to junior from the St. Louis Blues.

The Barrie Colts wasted little time trading for the former Niagara IceDogs captain, and Tuesday he hit the ice in Barrie for his first practice with the Ontario Hockey League team.

Pietrangelo took notice of Blues teammate and former Colts captain B.J. Crombeen, who stood out in a photo on a wall inside the Barrie Molson Centre.

"I was looking at the pictures this morning," the King City native said following his first on-ice session.

The new Colts star will wear No. 7, just as former Colts defender Ed Hill did when he helped Barrie reach the Memorial Cup a decade ago.

During Tuesday's practice, Pietrangelo was paired with Nick Crawford, his good buddy from their minor hockey days in Vaughan.

"We know each other well," Pietrangelo said. "It should work well."

Fresh off being named the top defenceman at the world junior championship with Team Canada, Pietrangelo will be under pressure to perform, starting with his Colts debut on Thursday, when Barrie heads to Windsor for a big-time match-up with the Spitfires.

After all, Barrie paid a hefty sum -- 16-year-old forward Ryan Strome and a big box full of draft picks -- to get him here.

Pietrangelo relishes the challenge.

"There's pressure. But I put pressure on myself to perform and make a difference here," the NHL's fourth-overall draft pick in 2008 said.

"There's nothing better than being put in every situation and playing a lot," the six-foot-four defenceman added. "I'm going to embrace that and use it to my advantage."

Colts captain Stefan Della Rovere described his world junior teammate and minor hockey pal as a "great all-around player who brings a lot of experience."

Barrie sits first in the Eastern Conference and appears poised to make a run at the Memorial Cup, but Della Rovere doesn't think Pietrangelo's arrival puts any added urgency on the Colts to succeed.

"Pressure? I don't think it puts pressure on us at all," the 19-year-old forward said. "I think he'll help this team."

Pietrangelo hopes he can do just that, while benefiting from some extra ice-time. He played just nine games with St. Louis this season -the limit before the teenager would have technically had a full year of NHL action under his belt, putting him one year closer to free agency.

"That's the biggest thing," he said. "You've got to play to get better, and this is going to be a good opportunity."

Mavric Parks also practised with the Colts for the first time. The 19-year-old goalie was traded to Barrie in a highly publicized deal with the Kitchener Rangers just prior to Monday's trade deadline.

Finnish import goalie Petteri Simila, acquired as part of the package deal for Pietrangelo, skated with the Colts, though he's not expected to stay with the team.